If you told me the Milwaukee Brewers would be a postseason contender this season, I would’ve said you’re delusional. Given the key players lost before the season, nobody would’ve blamed them if they had a losing year. It hasn’t been much easier during the season as Milwaukee has had to start 16 different starting pitchers due to injuries. However, just like every season, the players have the final word on what happens between the white lines. Despite all odds, the Brew Crew are having a magical year and are close to clinching their third division title in four years. Given how low expectations were for the Brewers and how successful they’ve been this season, it’s hard to not call them the “Cinderella Brew Crew.”
An Offseason Filled With Adversity
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore the season, the Milwaukee Brewers had a very tumultuous offseason. The team lost many key pieces. Corbin Burnes was traded to Baltimore and Brandon Woodruff would miss the entire season with a shoulder injury. While losing Burnes and Woodruff was painful, it wasn’t the worst loss Milwaukee suffered during the offseason. When longtime manager and Wisconsin native Craig Counsell departed for the arch-rival Cubs, this was viewed this as a “season killer” for the team. It was arguably the biggest betrayal in franchise history.
In an offseason that was already horrible enough, Milwaukee received worse news during spring training. All-Star closer Devin Williams would be forced to miss a majority of the season with a back injury. The team would also be going into the season with a first-year manager in Pat Murphy and the 12th youngest roster. Many of the projections had the Brewers finishing below .500 and missing the postseason.
The Adversity Didn’t Go Away During The Regular Season
Embed from Getty ImagesThe adversity hasn’t let up for the Brewers during the season either. The team has had to constantly shuffle its starting rotation due to injuries. Starters like Wade Miley and Robert Gasser would be lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery. A team record 16 different pitchers have made a start due to all the injuries and underperformance. One injury that could’ve sunk the Brewers’ season was the loss of all-star Christian Yelich. Yelich suffered a back injury in late July and despite his best efforts to rehab, he would ultimately be forced to miss the rest of the season. However, just like every season, the nine guys in the lineup have the final say on what happens on the field.
The Brewers Have Been Proving Everyone Wrong
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite the pessimistic predictions by the prognosticators, the Milwaukee Brewers have proven everyone wrong. They’ve led the NL Central for almost the entire season and currently have the largest division lead in the entire league. For those attempting to use the “they haven’t played anyone good” argument, the Brewers have a record of 45-33 against teams with a .500 or better record this season. Despite having a much lower payroll, Milwaukee isn’t far behind either the Phillies or the Dodgers for a higher playoff seed as well.
The Brewers Have Had An Explosive Offense
The most surprising thing about the Brewers’ success is that their offense has been leading the charge. Most people remember that their identity centered around their starting rotation while their offense struggled. This season, Milwaukee’s offense has been one of the best in the National League. Led by Willy Adames, William Contreras, free agent Rhys Hoskins, and rookie sensation Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee is averaging 4.88 runs per game. The only teams averaging more runs are the Dodgers and Phillies. Meanwhile, despite Yelich being out, Garrett Mitchell stepped up nicely. Since becoming a lineup regular, Mitchell has put up an OPS of .788.
Amazingly the Brewers haven’t solely relied on the long ball to score runs. Milwaukee has been one of the more disciplined teams at the plate. The Brewers have been very aggressive on the basepaths stealing 176 bases this season. In the era of homers and strikeouts, The Brewers have also been one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season. They’ve done a great job at getting opponents to get deep into counts, only the Dodgers have seen more pitches than the Brewers. Milwaukee also has the lowest chase percentage in not just the National League but all of baseball. This has resulted in the Brewers leading the National League in walks. The Brewers have also shown the game is never over from them. The team has 36 comeback wins including two occurring in the ninth inning.
Some Things Remain The Same
Embed from Getty ImagesLike with any team’s success, some things remain the same. The Brewers bullpen remains the best in the game. Milwaukee’s bullpen currently tops the National League in both ERA (2.80) and WHIP (0.64). They once again have a great way of finding pitchers who were discarded and turning them into quality relievers. Previous unknown pitchers Bryan Hudson and Jared Koening have been shut-down relievers in high-leverage situations. Before Devin Williams returned, Trevor Megill filled in nicely registering 20 saves, and certainly was all-star worthy.
The Team Has Made It Work With Their Starting Rotation
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile their starting rotation has been very fluid due to injuries and underperformance, 16 different players including openers have made a start for the Brewers in 2024. However, Milwaukee has made it work. Previously unknown rookie starter, Tobias Myers has become the Brewers’ unofficial ace. Journeyman Colin Rea has been having a career year. Trade deadline acquisitions Aaron Civale and Frankie Montas have done a great job at stabilizing the starting rotation. Since coming to Milwaukee, Civale and Montas seemed to have morphed back to how good they were in Cleveland and Oakland respectively.
The Rookies Are Thriving
Under first-year manager Pat Murphy, the Brewers rookies have been developing quite nicely. While the exploits of Jackson Chourio have been well-documented, other rookies like Joey Ortiz, Bryan Hudson, and Tobias Myers have all had a lot of success as well. Myers has been the unofficial ace of the starting rotation. While he’s had some injuries, Ortiz has put up an OPS of .732 and has been an above-average defender at third base. Bryan Hudson has been a great late-inning and high-leverage reliever this season as well. Seeing these promising developments means the Brewers are in good hands going forward.
Anything Is Possible With This Team
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Milwaukee Brewers have had a lot of success in recent years. However, this has been a season unlike any other for the Brew Crew. The “Cinderella Brew Crew” have been the most surprising team this season. They’ve led their division almost all season, their offense did a 180 from the previous three years, the rookies are all thriving, Milwaukee’s bullpen has remained the best, team has had great performances from otherwise overlooked players, and they never seem to be out of game. Manager Pat Murphy should be a runaway Manager of the Year award winner. Against all odds, the Brewers are in the hunt for a higher postseason seed as well. While everyone doubted them all year, this team has proven that anything is possible with them. The Brewers success has been the biggest Cinderella story this season.
For more on baseball, check out Belly Up Sports and follow Eric Katz on Twitter/X. Featured images from Getty Images
